Tara Lipinski needs no introduction. Olympian extraordinaire, she has since carved out an impressive media career. More recently, she has also been making headlines when it comes to all things women’s health and fertility. That’s also why she has now taken on a new role with Dandi, a fertility care company. Hope you enjoy today’s interview!
Could you please give subscribers some background about your new role as Head of Community and what made you want to join Dandi in this position as well as what you hope to achieve?
As tough as winning my Olympic Gold Medal was, it pales in comparison to the emotional rollercoaster of fertility treatments – eight egg retrievals, six failed IVF transfers, and four devastating miscarriages. I understand firsthand the struggles of fertility experiences - the roller coaster of emotions can be mentally exhausting and isolating. The unanswered questions, the constant uncertainty, not to mention the distress of confusing medication protocols.
Dandi combines expert-led, on-demand support with beautifully designed products. I wish I would have had access to a fertility nurse available to virtually guide me through nightly injections or help me through some of the early and informative decisions along my journey (i.e. understanding my options, finding the right clinic, etc…). The Dandi IVF Care Kit brings a much-needed dose of comfort and self-care to an experience that can make you feel like your body is not your own. And what drew me in most to Dandi, is the fact they built all of this alongside the fertility community with hundreds of patients over the last few years after being inspired by their own fertility struggles.
As the new Head of Community, my mission is to uplift women on this path and remind them that they're not alone. Dandi's amazing community is here for you at every stage – from those early days of considering your options to navigating tricky questions and finding others who get what you're going through. The Dandi community exists in so many shapes and forms – from a safe and highly vetted invite-only chat, to a fast-growing ambassador and advocacy program, to research groups where patients are helping to build the products and services that will redefine the future of fertility care.
You recently welcomed your first daughter through IVF and surrogacy. I am a big fan of your podcast 'Tara Lipinski: Unexpecting' that you co-hosted with your husband and in which you shared vulnerable details around your own fertility journey. What made you decide to be so open about sharing your struggles?For years, I privately suffered thinking I was the only one going through fertility challenges (despite 1 in 5 women struggling with infertility). It wasn't until I started candidly sharing my story on Unexpecting that I realized how many others silently related. The response was overwhelming - countless women felt seen, heard and less alone hearing my truth. By opening up vulnerably, I was able to connect with this amazing community I didn't know existed. If my struggles can provide even an ounce of comfort for someone else, it's worth baring it all.
Egg-freezing is a trending topic. For anyone considering going through the process, is there any advice you have?Egg freezing can be such an empowering option, but it's so important to go into it with eyes wide open. My advice? Educate yourself thoroughly from reliable medical sources and fertility experts. Understand that while it can give incredible peace of mind about preserving your options, it doesn't guarantee results down the road. Take the time for plenty of self-reflection on whether it aligns with your personal values and goals for this season of life. There's no one-size-fits-all, so tune into what feels right for you.
Dandi offers consultations with leading fertility nurses for this exact reasoning - to talk through options (insurance, providers, clinics, etc.) to help decide and unpack the overwhelming next steps and consider if egg-freezing is a path you want to pursue.
You are also currently preparing to travel to Paris as a commentator at the Olympics. How have your prep and workouts changed as an Olympian now that you are a new mom?This Olympic journey feels more purposeful than ever before as a new mom. My workout and wellness routine has changed significantly from my days training to compete in the Olympics. When I was going through my own infertility journey, I was hyper-aware of any movement that might impact my results and was working closely with my trainer (one of the only people who knew I was going through this experience) to tailor movements to what I could do. Now, as a new-mom, it seems like there is never enough time in the day! My workouts have been focused on optimizing efficiency since time and energy are limited with a newborn. Now I’ve found the perfect compromise is workout membership my trainer Hannah and I have started. We are connecting with a community of women while also getting a live workout with our members twice a week. I feel like I found a whole new circle of friends and it’s a perfect way to stay accountable to move my body twice a week!
Is there anything else you would like Talk of the Internet subscribers to know?
To anyone out there struggling with infertility, please hear me - you are not alone. Dandi's community is here to wrap you in empathy, education and understanding through each high and low. We're transforming this often-isolating journey into one of comfort and solidarity, one open conversation at a time. With Dandi's innovative care model and my role rallying this network of support, we've got this. You've got this. We're in it together.
Thank you so much for sharing your story, Tara!
You can find out more about Dandi here and follow along Tara’s journey to the Olympics in Paris here.
Imagery courtesy of Dandi and Tara Lipinski.
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